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not be taking any female prisoners until further notification. Sheriff Stephens <br /> explained that the jail cannot keep enough female jailers to have one on duty <br /> 24/7. He said the undesirable working conditions along with low wages were the <br /> problems. The county pays jailers, male and female, $11.18 per hour. He said <br /> most county jails have low wages but the prisons in Newport pay $16.51 per <br /> hour, which is where most of his employees have gone to. Chief Cockrill said <br /> that in the meantime his officers will have to transport any violent or felon <br /> females to either Lawrence, Jackson or Craighead County, which ever one has <br /> room. This will cause his fuel to be overbudget and will reduce the number of <br /> officers on the street. He said he will always send two officers to transport a <br /> female prisoner. Several of the council expressed their sympathy for the Sheriff <br /> for having to tend with the budget issues with the jail. Councilmember Bryant <br /> mentioned that the cities in the county were supposed to be paying 30% of their <br /> fine moneys to the County to help with jail expenses. The county keeps all of <br /> Batesville's fine money in lieu of the city paying for District Court and Jail <br /> expenses but it is unsure if the 30% dedicated to the jail is still being distributed. <br /> Sheriff Stephens said he has called a meeting for Thursday at 1:00 pm at the <br /> District Court building do discuss possible solutions for jail funding and he invited <br /> the council to attend. <br /> B) ENGINEER'S REPORT <br /> City Engineer Damon Johnson addressed the council with his monthly report. <br /> Mr. Johnson gave each councilmember a letter from Olsson Associates who <br /> recently purchased McGoodwin, Williams & Yates Engineering firm which is the <br />